The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and CBC Sports announced Tuesday a three-year content partnership, making the public broadcaster the premier media partner of Canada’s only First Division professional basketball league.

CBC Sports will offer live streams of all 70 regular season CEBL games and its five playoff contests on the free CBC Gem streaming service, cbcsports.ca and the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices. CBC will also provide broadcast coverage of seven regular season games and the CEBL Championship Weekend in Edmonton. The CEBL season tips off Thursday, May 7, 2020 when the expansion Ottawa BlackJacks debut on the road against the Niagara River Lions at 7 p.m. For the complete CEBL season schedule, click here.

The partnership was celebrated at The Barbara Frum Atrium within the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in downtown Toronto and featured local community basketball players who showcased their talent with CBC personalities and CEBL stars.

The announcement comes one week after the CEBL announced its first expansion franchise, the Ottawa BlackJacks, which joins the league for the 2020 season. The BlackJacks join the Edmonton Stingers, Fraser Valley Bandits, Guelph Nighthawks, Hamilton Honey Badgers, Niagara River Lions, and Saskatchewan Rattlers during the second CEBL campaign.

Throughout the inaugural CEBL season CBC Sports played a significant role in covering the league, highlighted by its comprehensive coverage during CEBL Championship Weekend in Saskatoon.

Quotes

“The CEBL is thrilled to welcome CBC as its premier media partner. CBC Sports is Canada’s Olympic Network and continues its legacy of supporting and showcasing Canadian athletes at all levels of competition. The first CEBL offseason has produced tremendous support and exciting announcements, including the hosting of the 2020 CEBL Championship Weekend in Edmonton, welcoming the Ottawa BlackJacks to the CEBL roster of franchises, and now showcasing our partnership with CBC Sports. While our second season does not tip off until May, we are well positioned for success both on and off the court. This CBC Sports partnership is a game changer for basketball in Canada.”

– Mike Morreale, CEO and Commissioner, Canadian Elite Basketball League

“We’re excited to extend our partnership with the CEBL as basketball continues to grow in popularity among Canadians, with the support of Canada Basketball, and as we look ahead to Tokyo 2020. This collaboration is an example of our ongoing commitment to men’s and women’s basketball, and allows us to create valuable connections with local communities of all sizes. We’ve seen how this sport has the power to unite and bring people from across the country and all over the world together. We’re pleased to be able to continue this momentum by providing fans unprecedented coverage of the 2020 CEBL season.”

– Chris Wilson, Executive Director, Sports & Olympics, CBC

“As we experience historic times for basketball in Canada, the CEBL will play a pivotal role in showcasing the growing talent from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Canada Basketball is proud of the partnership with the CEBL as its First Division Professional League. The collaboration between CBC Sports and the CEBL provides increased opportunities to tell the stories of amazing Canadian basketball players, coaches and officials.”

–Glen Grunwald, CEO, Canada Basketball

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About Canadian Elite Basketball League

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is a new basketball experience that features world class professional basketball in a fan-friendly entertainment environment across seven cities in Canada. The 2019 inaugural season saw more than 100 Canadian and international players take to the court, culminating with the Saskatchewan Rattlers earning the first CEBL championship trophy. CEBL players come from NBA G-League clubs, top NCAA programs, the Canadian national program, U SPORTS and other Division 1 FIBA leagues. As the First Division Professional League partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL is set to start its second season in May 2020.

About CBC Sports

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s Olympic Network through 2024 and Canada’s Paralympic Network through 2020. The national public broadcaster is committed to showcasing Canadian and international athletes and sports across all platforms under the CBC Sports and Hockey Night in Canada brands, including on television, online at cbcsports.ca and via the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices. CBC Sports prides itself on telling the story of the high-performance athlete’s journey every step of the way, ensuring Canadians always know the people who represent them before they see them atop the podium.